House Bill 854, sponsored by Representative Saavedra, is a part of the budget package and will cut school employees' and state employees' pay by 1.5% for two years. House Bill 854 increases the employee contribution to the pension fund 1.5% and reduces what the state is paying into the pension fund 1.5%. The measure would take hundreds of dollars out of the average school employee's pocket. House Bill 854, well intentioned thought it might be, targets a select group of employees for a pay cut.
The House budget plan, to our knowledge, contains not one proposal to raise revenue other than asking public employees to pay money to the general fund. In addition to being, on its face, a highly unfair targeted tax increase, the plan to dock workers 1.5% is a direct hit to the New Mexico economy. It targets New Mexico families and only New Mexico families. Further, the vast majority of the affected workers make between $15,000 and $70,000/year. These are working class and middle class families who spend the money they take in, helping to keep the New Mexico economy moving.
This measure is on the House calendar for action today. Make a last ditch effort to reach your House member by phone before today's floor session at 10:30 AM with the simple message: "Oppose HB 854. It is an unfair attack on public employees. It amounts to a highly unfair targeted tax increase. This plan to dock workers 1.5% of their take-home pay is a direct hit to the New Mexico economy. It targets New Mexico families and only New Mexico families. Further, the vast majority of the affected workers make between $15,000 and $70,000/year"
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